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Basalt Pillars and Green Belts Creating Community Connections in Icelandic Geology Museum

Authors:
Limin Pan, Jiawei Wu, Yusi Huang
Basalt Pillars and Green Belts Creating Community Connections in Icelandic Geology Museum

Project in-detail

Incorporating basalt pillars and surrounding green belts, the design serves as a community connector while highlighting Iceland's volcanic heritage through its educational exhibition functions.
5 key facts about this project
01
The museum integrates basalt pillars as a key architectural feature.
02
Surrounding green belts enhance biodiversity and community interaction.
03
Exhibition spaces are designed to showcase the region's volcanic history.
04
The master plan includes multiple levels to accommodate various functions.
05
The layout promotes accessibility between the museum and nearby scenic spots.

The Iceland Volcano Museum is located in the Myvatn area and focuses on the region's unique geological features. Its design draws inspiration from local elements such as Myvatn, Basalt Pillars, Volcanoes, and Lava. These aspects reflect the natural landscape and the rich geological history of Iceland. The museum aims to be more than just an educational space; it serves as a community hub that encourages interaction among locals and visitors.

Site Plan
The site plan has been thoughtfully designed to create a relationship between the building and the surrounding environment. It considers the existing landscape and integrates public spaces, commercial areas, and green zones. This careful arrangement makes it easy for people to access the museum and engage with the community. The vibrant blend of spaces enhances local life and promotes connection.



Master Plan
The master plan consists of multiple levels featuring essential spaces like a library, meeting rooms, and an information center. These areas support educational purposes and serve visitors effectively. An exhibition hall is a key part of the design, showcasing artifacts and information that highlight the volcanic landscape. This arrangement allows smooth movement throughout the museum while keeping the design cohesive.



Environmental Integration
A significant focus of the museum is its commitment to sustainability. Green belts are integrated into the design to encourage biodiversity and reduce the impact on the natural landscape. By maintaining connections with grassy areas and water features, the building complements its surroundings. This thoughtful approach enhances the visitor experience while nurturing the local environment.



With its varied functional spaces and emphasis on community engagement, the museum invites exploration of Iceland's volcanic heritage. The design integrates building and landscape, creating areas that encourage appreciation of the region’s geological wonders.

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MICROHOME 10: Celebrating Small-Scale Living with €100,000 Prize Fund and Kingspan’s Innovation

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Competition organisers

The MICROHOME 10 competition invites participants to submit visionary designs for off-grid, modular microhomes that push the limits of sustainable, small-scale living. Organised by Buildner in partnership with Kingspan and Hapi Homes, this tenth edition sets the challenge of designing a dwelling for two people within a maximum floor area of 25 m², encouraging bold solutions adaptable to any urban or rural location. The competition continues Buildner’s mission to foster innovative approaches to compact, energy-efficient housing that can address pressing global challenges.

This year’s edition offers a generous total prize fund of €100,000, including the Kingspan Award for designs that integrate high-performance Kingspan products and the Hapi Homes Award for a project selected for real-world construction. In addition to cash prizes, the winners gain international exposure through Buildner’s media partnerships, publications, and a dedicated MICROHOME magazine, further amplifying their ideas to the wider architectural community.

Key dates for MICROHOME 10 include the closing date for registration on 25 September 2025, the submission deadline on 29 October 2025 (11:59 p.m. London time), and the announcement of winners on 9 December 2025. These milestones ensure participants have clear timelines to develop and present their concepts, with early registration discounts available to support students and emerging designers worldwide.

MICROHOME

Design a new small-scale home concept in the 10th edition of MICROHOME — 100,000 € prize + construction

100,000 € Prize Fund / Kingpsan Edition #10 ideas COMPETITION
Prize 100,000 € + Potential realisation
Eligibility Open to all
Final registration deadline 25 September 2025

Enter an open architecture
competition now

Buildner's Unbuilt Award 2025
Buildner's Unbuilt Award 2025
100,000€ Prize / 2025
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Denver Affordable Housing Challenge
Affordable Housing Series 19th Edition
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Chair
The Architect's Chair
Take a seat and make a statement! Edition #4
MICROHOME
MICROHOME
100,000 € Prize Fund / Kingpsan Edition #10
Kinderspace
Kinderspace
Architecture for Children’s Development #3
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